Urban Neighborhood Characteristics and the Spatial Distribution of Home and Community-Based Service Organizations in Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Abstract

Living in a neighborhood with dense HCBS organizations can promote older adults’ health and well-being and may mitigate health disparities generated by living in materially deprived urban neighborhoods. Using 2016 US County Business Patterns and the American Community Survey (2013–2017), focused on 516 ZIP Codes in Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Areas, this study examines the association between neighborhood characteristics and the relative density of businesses offering services for older adults and persons with disabilities (e.g., senior centers, adult day service centers, personal care) and businesses offering home health care. Results from a series of spatial econometric models show that social care organization density tends to be high in neighborhoods with a greater number of residents who have a bachelor’s degree, who are older, and who are in poverty. Home health care density was not explained by neighborhood factors. Multiple neighborhood socio-demographic indicators explain the spatial distribution of social care organizations.